PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ismail Saidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shannon Mondello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saidov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Shamhan Daldaev - Eto Kavkaz. Ismail Saidov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Shannon Mondello's chin.

Saidov
vs
Mondello

188 cm
24
196 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ismail Saidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shannon Mondello!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mondello throws the kick towards the body but Saidov avoids it.
Mondello fails with the takedown.
Mondello tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saidov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mondello tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Saidov counters with a single leg into guard. Mondello didn't expect that.
Saidov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Saidov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mondello dives on top into guard.
Mondello would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Saidov pushes Mondello off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mondello fails with an attempt to clinch.

Saidov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Saidov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saidov swings around for an armbar but Mondello sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Saidov's guard.

Mondello gets to his feet - Saidov follows without any prompting.
Mondello tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mondello fails with an attempt to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mondello enables Saidov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mondello manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Saidov looking to pass the guard.
Mondello looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mondello is looking to stand up but Saidov isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saidov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mondello swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mondello is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Saidov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mondello dives on top into guard.
Mondello trying to control but Saidov is working from the bottom.
Mondello stopping the sweep attempt from Saidov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saidov working a defensive guard but Mondello manages to pass into side control anyway.

Mondello has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Saidov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mondello tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Saidov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mondello's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mondello stopping the sweep attempt from Saidov.
Mondello looking to pass the guard.

Saidov is looking for a triangle here but Mondello uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saidov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismail Saidov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saidov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mondello's guard.
Saidov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mondello swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Saidov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mondello manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Saidov has Mondello in his guard.
Ismail Saidov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mondello postures up.
Mondello trying to control the position from guard on top but Saidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saidov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mondello would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Saidov looking for a sweep. Not yet Saidov, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mondello wanted to stand there but Saidov had control of the position.
Saidov looking for a sweep. Not yet Saidov, not yet.
Saidov is working hard here to advance position.
Mondello trying to stand up but can't free himself from Saidov's guard.
Saidov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Shannon Mondello has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mondello tries to clinch but Saidov is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saidov gets a double leg takedown into Mondello's guard.
Mondello wants to stand but Saidov is controlling the position.
Saidov looking to pass the guard.

Saidov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mondello looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mondello looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mondello!

Mondello stands up and beckons Saidov to his feet.
Mondello misses with a looping left.
Ismail Saidov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saidov fails with the takedown
and Mondello counters with a good, hard body kick but Saidov shrugs it off.
Mondello wants to clinch.
Mondello cracks Saidov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mondello tries to clinch but Saidov moves out of range.
Mondello throws a series of punches but Saidov avoids them all with ease.
Mondello tries to bum rush Saidov with a series of wild strikes but Saidov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mondello tries to clinch but Saidov moves away

and Saidov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mondello's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saidov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mondello won't allow Saidov to get back to his feet.

Saidov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mondello defends it easily.
Saidov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mondello is defending against the submission attempts here by Saidov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismail Saidov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mondello moves in looking to clinch but Saidov pushes him off.
Mondello bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Saidov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Saidov tries to free his leg and advance position but Mondello is retaining full guard.

Mondello stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mondello shoots in looking for a takedown but Saidov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mondello's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mondello tries to clinch

and Saidov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mondello!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saidov swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Mondello is now in Saidov's guard. A big mistake from Saidov there, giving up the dominant position!

Mondello drops back, looking for a kneebar! Saidov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Saidov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Saidov!
Mondello regains half guard.

Saidov is looking for a kimura here.

Saidov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saidov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Saidov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Shannon Mondello has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mondello is defending against the submission attempts here by Saidov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Saidov wants to work for an arm triangle but Mondello is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Saidov is working for a kimura but Mondello is defending it quite comfortably.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ismail Saidov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saidov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ismail Saidov!
Ismail Saidov thanked the fans post fight for their support.